(Toronto, Ont.) The Varsity Blues men’s basketball team won the first game of their home-and-home versus the Ryerson Rams, downing their city rivals 71-64 at Kerr Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Rob Paris led Toronto with a team-high 23 points and hauled in five rebounds as the Blues won their fifth game in six tries and take over sole possession of third place in the OUA East with a record of 11-10. They sit two points up on the Rams and the Queen’s Gaels, who are now tied for fourth place with identical records of 10-11.

Ryerson and Toronto will face off again on Saturday night at U of T’s Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is set for 8 p.m.

Third-year guard Justin Holmes (Toronto) tallied 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three-point land. Andrew Wasik of Burnaby, B.C. continued his consistent play and solid contributions with six points, a team-high six rebounds and four assists, while fifth-year senior Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) added 10 points and five assists in the win.

Toronto native Boris Bakovic, who is nation’s second-leading scorer, was the hot hand for the Rams yet again. The fifth-year forward had a game-high 30 points and 12 boards, while teammate Ryan McNeilly, also of Toronto, knocked down 21 points and had seven rebounds in the loss.

McNeilly and Bakovic, who were a combined 16-for-33, accounted for 80 percent of their team's points on Wednesday night.

This coming Saturday, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues program will recognize four outstanding graduating seniors. Fifth-year players Rob Paris, Nick Magalas and Nick Snow, along with second-year Blue Pat Sewell will be honoured prior to their last regular season university contest.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.